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From the Editor |
Since numerous other options have become available to conduct online searches of the medical literature, the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Publications Council recommended in March 2003 that the RSNA Board of Directors consider ending continued indexing of journals for the RSNA Index to Imaging Literature. The RSNA Board of Directors considered this recommendation and made a decision in June 2003 to terminate production of the Index after December 2004 (1,2). The Index included 42 imaging and imaging-related journals. For the past few years, only an online version of the Index has been available, so as to allow quarterly updating, in contrast to the printed version, which could only be updated annually.
William R. Eyler, MD, former Editor of Radiology, established the Index during his editorship. Dr Eyler continued to serve as editor of the Index on completing his tenure as Editor of Radiology. A staunch supporter of the Index, he developed it to include more than 3,500 subject terms, always updating and adding terms as appropriate, all with the intent to allow individuals the ability to search for articles in specific topical areas.
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Dr Eyler’s successor as Editor of Radiology was Stanley S. Siegelman, MD, my predecessor. Dr Siegelman said of Dr Eyler, "Despite the demands of an increasingly complex workload, Dr Eyler has managed to improve both the efficiency of the editorial operation and the quality of the journal. His achievement has been based on a combination of leadership, organizational skill, and devotion to duty. During the 2 decades of his stewardship, the circulation of Radiology increased from 12,000 to 32,000" (3). On the appointment in November 1985 of Dr Eyler as Editor Emeritus of Radiology, RSNA President-elect James McCort, MD, said, "The continued success of Radiology predominantly reflects the imagination, creativity and hard work of our editor... . Not only did he excel as an editor, department chairman, and program director, but Bill found time to complete numerous clinical investigations... . His ingenious innovations have made the journal more readable and kept it current" (4). Dr McCort made another observation that characterizes Dr Eyler, as all who know him will certainly agree: "a warm, thoughtful, and compassionate human being" (4).
At the 90th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the RSNA, held in 2004, Dr Eyler was recognized by the RSNA with a resolution honoring him for his work on the RSNA Index to Imaging Literature. He was presented with a scroll inscribed with "creator and editor of the unique and valuable RSNA Index to Imaging Literature, whose work demonstrates that a strong, disciplined intellect and dedication are the foundation of traditional indexes and computer search engines."
The Index has been a highly valued publication for its users over the past many years. Ronald L. Arenson, MD, noted in his comments to me, "Before sophisticated computer searches became available, the Index was the only convenient way to review the literature for imaging-related manuscripts. The Index always had a special place on a shelf immediately behind my office desk. Dr Eyler deserves a lot of credit for making the Index a reality." R. Nick Bryan, MD, PhD, former RSNA President, stated that the Index was "the most immediate reference source to the radiological literature. I particularly used it when looking for a quick answer or reference to a clinical case I was interpreting. I used the electronic version even more than the paper version when I moved from hard copy to PACS." E. Robert Heitzman, MD, also a former RSNA President stated, "The RSNA Index to Imaging Literature was extremely valuable at the time it was created." Stanley S. Siegelman, MD, former Editor of Radiology, credits Dr Eyler as "directly responsible for the conception and creation of the RSNA Index to Imaging Literature. The accuracy and high quality of the enterprise was attributable to his devoted and faithful attention to detail. The many practicing physician-radiologists and research-oriented radiologists who regularly use the Index and found it valuable owe a debt of gratitude to Dr Eyler."
As current Editor of Radiology, I have had the opportunity to benefit from Dr Eyler’s insights and dedication to the Index. Indeed, Bill Eyler is a "warm, thoughtful, and compassionate human being" (4), as noted by Dr McCort. He serves as a role model for editors and has truly been instrumental in establishing Radiology as a preeminent journal of imaging science. I asked Dr Eyler to send me his thoughts about the Index. Here is what he said:
"Can indexing of articles to be published in Radiology by an editorial staff and a clinical radiologist with an interest in publication provide a service of value to our members? Does it assist the practitioner, researcher, and student to combine this Index with an index of the English language radiological publications? Does an index focused on radiology expedite a specific literature search? A positive response to these questions has been the motivation for the production of our Index to Imaging Literature and its ancestors since the start of publication. With the development of a variety of search engines, these functions will be provided by others.
"The immediate predecessor of Radiology was the Journal of Radiology, first published in 1920 without an index. The subsequent volumes, II–IV, each had an index with author and subject entries combined. With the advent of monthly publication of Radiology in 1923, with two volumes in 1924 and subsequent years, the same indexing style was used.
"Indexing of Radiology began with volume 1, the single volume published in 1923. The style of the journal followed the broad outlines of arrangement of an index first devised by the Surgeon General’s library; this approach was continued and expanded by the American Medical Association and the National Library of Medicine as the quarterly Cumulative Index of Medicine. Our indexers followed their classification and typographic style. Our Editorial Office staff, Marion B. Crowell and Florence E. Roper, included indexing as one of their functions in preparing manuscripts for publication.
"In the introduction to the first cumulative index, we are reminded of the necessary choices to be made by the indexer. We adhere to the most generally accepted terminology but supply more than one term for an entity when more than one is in common use. When multiple terms are used, duplication of entries is avoided by supplying only cross references from such terms to the principal term. Since authors are inconsistent in their use of first names and initials, an attempt is made to find the first name and initial(s) if the author uses them. Usually, we have succeeded in listing all indexed publications of a given author under a single name. Changes in terminology over time can be a problem, especially in the production of the cumulative indexes. Imagine the evolutionary changes faced by the staff in the preparation of the first cumulative index spanning the years 1923 to 1942. Terminology employed for the title of an article sometimes is clever and catchy but not revealing of the subject material. Analysis of the material in the text of an article is always required.
"In earlier times, to help our readers stay abreast of medical progress beyond our own publications, Radiology published many abstracts of articles from other journals and incorporated index terms from those articles in our index. With the publication of the cumulative index for 1981–1985, our index included the major articles from 10 of the most frequently used journals. In 1986, the number of additional journals indexed was increased to 23 and by 1987 to 32. In recent times, all radiologic publications in English, 42 in all, have been included.
"Cumulative Index I encompassed volumes 1–39 from the years 1923–1942. Authors and subjects were presented as separate files. This style was employed for Cumulative Index II, which included volumes 40–49 from 1943–47. Five-year serial issues followed as Cumulative Indexes III, volumes 50–59, 1948–1952; IV, volumes 60–69, 1953–1957; V, volumes 70–79, 1958–1962; VI, volumes 80–89, 1963–1967; VII, volumes 90–105, 1968–1972; (four volumes per year began in 1994); VIII, volumes 106–125, 1973–1977; and IX, volumes 126–145, 1978–82. With Cumulative Index X, 1980–1984, a new style employing an annual update covering the most recent 5 years and subsequently in 1987, the most recent 3 years was adopted. Soft cover was utilized for Cumulative Index X and for subsequent issues.
"To aid in the production of the Index and the journal, the first computer was introduced into the Editorial Office in Southfield, Michigan, in 1981. This early instrument functioned through a telephone handset to a cradle connection. A memorable occasion saw the computer novices in the office changing cards and dip switches at the telephoned direction of a remote expert.
"The Index went online in 1997 and hard copy was dropped subsequently with only online versions produced from 1999 to termination of new entries at the end of 2004.
"Production of the Index has always been a team effort. Recognition of the many who have contributed to the effort is not feasible at this juncture. Aware that the list is incomplete, special recognition is given to the following: Marion Crowell, Florence Roper, Arlene Hipple, Lillian Kunz, Stuart Birkby, Shannon Henry, Claudia Gorman, and Jennifer Eberhart. For a radiologist involved in producing our Index, knowing what has appeared and what is about to appear in Radiology has provided a feeling of being up to date and a certain smug satisfaction in knowing what is coming next before the issue is unwrapped by friends and colleagues."
REFERENCES
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